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Symphony Environmental Technologies Plc are pleased to announce the release of a short film introducing d2w oxo-biodegradable (controlled-life) plastic technology.

Oxo-biodegradable plastic (OBP) technology is proven science which has been studied, tested and commercially used for more than 3 decades. It does not change the principles of minimisation, reuse or recycling and does not leave microplastics or toxins as a problem for future generations.

OBP can be programmed at manufacture to have a ‘service-life’ during which time it will behave in exactly the same ways as conventional plastic. In that it is as strong, flexible, lightweight and waterproof and it can be re-used and recycled if collected. However, if it escapes collection and ends up in the open environment, on land or sea. It will degrade and biodegrade in a much, much shorter timescale, leaving nothing behind, in the same way as nature’s waste only quicker.

OBP contains an extra ingredient which acts as a catalyst to dismantle the molecular structure of the polymer. The material is then no longer a plastic and becomes a food source for microorganisms ubiquitous in terrestrial and marine environments.

OBP – The Facts

growing legislation requiring OBP

compatible with most types of plastic packaging

can be recycled and made with recyclate

harmlessly biodegrades in the open environment on land or sea

demonstrates clear benefits in Life Cycle Assessments

can be made right now in existing factories at little or no extra cost

OBP is an upgrade to conventional plastic, achieved by adding d2w at only 1%. It is a major improvement as plastic packaging is currently indispensable in everyday life.

The world uses approximately 320 million tons of plastic each year, and most of this could be made now with OBP technology. If this were done, the damage caused by plastic litter in the environment could be gradually and safely resolved. 80% of the plastic waste finding its way into the oceans of the world originates on land. Less plastic accumulating on land, means less plastic able to find its way into the marine environment.

d2w is a pragmatic way to reduce plastic litter. It offers an insurance policy that if plastic packaging does escape into the environment it will not be there for decades as a problem for future generations. It also gives shopkeepers and consumers the best product for the job, without the environmental baggage associated with it.

Symphony has developed and continues to develop, controlled-life plastic technology which helps tackle the problem of microplastics by turning ordinary plastic at the end of its service-life into biodegradable materials. It is then no longer a plastic and can be bioassimilated in the open environment in the same way as a leaf. The technology is branded d2w® and appears as a droplet logo on many thousands of tonnes of plastic packaging and other plastic products around the world. In some countries oxo-biodegradable plastic is now mandatory.

In addition, Symphony has developed a range of additives and master-batches marketed under its d2p® brand, which can be incorporated in a wide variety of plastic and non-plastic products so as to give them protection against many different types of bacteria, fungi, algae, moulds, insects and fire.

Symphony has also developed the d2Detector®, a portable device which analyses plastics and detects counterfeit products. This is very useful to government officials tasked with enforcing legislation. Symphony's d2t tagging and tracer technology is also available for further security. See www.d2t.net

Symphony has a diverse and growing customer-base and has established itself as an international business with 74 distributors around the world. Products made with Symphony's plastic technologies are now available in nearly 100 countries and in many different product applications. Symphony is certified to ISO9001 and ISO14001.

Symphony is a member of The Oxo-biodegradable Plastics Association (www.biodeg.org) (OPA), the Society for the Chemical Industry (UK), and the Pacific Basin Environmental Council, and the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council. Symphony participates in the Committee work of the British Standards Institute (BSI), the American Standards Organisation (ASTM), the European Standards Organisation (CEN), and the International Standards Organisation (ISO).